By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The newly selected seventh Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria has resumed duty at the global trade body.
She resumed on Monday, March 1, 2021, becoming the first woman and the first African to serve as Director-General of WTO. Her term of office will expire on August 31, 2025.
Before her assumption of office, the Deputy Director General of WTO, Alan Wolff has called on members to work with new Director-General to reform the body.
Speaking to Heads of WTO Member Delegations on 25 February 25, 2021, DDG Wolff urged them to build on their warm welcome for the incoming Director-General (Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala) by working with her to deliver much-needed reforms to the WTO.
“Enthusiasm, optimism and hope need to be translated into concrete action” to enhance global trade’s contribution to a more effective pandemic response as well as a strong and sustainable economic recovery,” he said.
According to him: “Delivering negotiated agreements would be essential to repair the WTO’s reputation”.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, is a Global Finance expert, an Economist and International Development professional with over 30 years of experience working in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America.
Before her current post, Okonjo-Iweala is Chair of the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Since its creation in 2000, Gavi has immunized 760 million children globally and saved thirteen million lives. She sits on the Boards of Standard Chartered PLC and Twitter Inc.
She was recently appointed as African Union (AU) Special Envoy to mobilise international financial support for the fight against COVID-19 and WHO Special Envoy for Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator.
She is a skilled negotiator and has brokered numerous agreements which have produced win-win outcomes in negotiations. She is regarded as an effective consensus builder and an honest broker enjoying the trust and confidence of governments and other stakeholders.
Previously, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala twice served as Nigeria’s Finance Minister (2003-2006 and 2011-2015) and briefly acted as Foreign Minister in 2006, the first woman to hold both positions.
She distinguished herself by carrying out major reforms which improved the effectiveness of these two Ministries and the functioning of the government machinery.
She had a 25-year career at the World Bank as a Development Economist, rising to the No. 2 position of Managing Director, Operations. As a Development Economist and Finance Minister, Okonjo-Iweala steered her country through various reforms ranging from macroeconomic to trade, financial and real sector issues.
Also, she was conferred with High National Honours from the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire and the Republic of Liberia. She is also the recipient of Nigeria’s third highest National Honors Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).
In addition, Okonjo-Iweala has been awarded the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award (2014), the President of the Italian Republic Gold Medal by the Pia Manzu Centre (2011), the Global Leadership Award by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs (2011) the Global Leadership Award by the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (2010), and the Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award (2010).
She is also the recipient of the TIME Magazine’s European Heroes Award in 2004, named Finance Minister of the Year (Africa Investor Magazine, 2014), Finance Minister of the Year for Africa and the Middle East (THE BANKER, 2004), Global Finance Minister of the Year (EUROMONEY, 2005), Finance Minister of the Year for Africa and the Middle East (Emerging Markets Magazine, 2005), and Minister of the Year (THISDAY, Newspaper 2004 and 2005).
